Biography. 151 



\z believed that this collection is without a parallel 

 in any language, and certainly unequalled in the 

 history of English literature. The author has been 

 charged, indeed, with discovering strong and even 

 bitter prejudices against some of the best charac- 

 ters which he undertook to review. But admitting 

 this to be true, and in some instances there is 

 perhaps too much foundation for the charge, it 

 may still be asked, where the student of polite li- 

 terature will meGt with another collection of bio- 

 graphical sketches, at once so original, instruc- 

 tive, and entertaining; with a body of criticism so 

 refined and discriminating; with a work abound- 

 ing in so many beauties of style, so many just ob- 

 servations on human nature, so many curious and 

 striking remarks on various departments of know- 

 ledge and of life, so many comprehensive views, 

 and all so pure in their moral character, as the 

 Lives of the Poets display ? The stores of literature, 

 it may be confidently pronounced, will furnish him 

 with no such work.' 



Among the numerous single biographical works 

 which the last age produced, it will be impossible 

 to recount all, or even the greater part of those 

 which are worthy of notice. A few of those which 

 are distinguished in the annals of English literature 

 may be slightly mentioned. The Life of Cicero, 

 by Dr. Middleton; the Life of Erasmus, by Dr. 

 Jortin; the Life of Swift, by Mr. Sheridan; 

 the Life of Metastasio, by Dr. Burney; the Life 

 of Doddridge, by Mr. Or ton; the Life of Pe- 

 trarch, by Mrs. Dobson; the Life of Bacon, by 

 Mr. Mallet; the Life of Lorenzo de Medici, by 



i While this warm and unreserved praise is bestowed on Dr. Johnson, 

 and particularly on the great biographical work which is the subject of the 

 above paragraph, it is perhaps proper to inform the reader, that my opi- 

 nions, on a variety of subjects, by no means coincide with those which he 

 frequently avows, and takes pains to inculcate. What these opinions are, 

 it would be unsuitable in this place to detail. 



